AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award

AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, Presented by Zoetis

Nomination Period Opens: September 11, 2024

Nomination Deadline: October 11, 2024

Eligibility

Eligibility for this national award is limited to the 2024 recipients of the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award at a college or school in the U.S. or the Caribbean.

Who may nominate

Institutional representatives must submit the materials identified below for their college’s recipient to be considered.

Award

The awardee will be notified in December 2024. The award includes a $2500 honorarium. The awardee will be featured in a 3-minute tribute video during the Annual Conference in April 2025. The awardee’s registration costs will be covered by AAVMC.

What to submit

1. A maximum of two letters of nomination from the dean, associate dean, department chair, or other individuals who can evaluate the nominee’s teaching ability. The letters should address the sustained quality of teaching and the impact on student learning.  Additional letters will not be considered by the selection committee.
2. A maximum of two letters of nomination from students. Letters could be submitted by a student organization (such as SCAVMA) or committee, and could include input from interns and residents, if appropriate. Additional letters will not be considered by the selection committee. 
3. A personal statement from the nominee describing their teaching philosophy and the impact they have had on veterinary medical education, including a brief description of major teaching accomplishments, innovations, and/or contributions.  The personal statement and impact summary must not exceed two pages in total.
4. The nominee’s current C.V. Pertinent information includes:

Courses taught (title, credits/hours, number of students, years taught)
Summary of student and peer teaching evaluations
Book chapters and books
Publications related to teaching
Web sites or other material developed for teaching
Grant support for teaching projects
Honors and awards for teaching

Where to submit materials

Submit materials here.

Award criteria

1. The sustained quality of teaching and impact on student learning.
2. Major teaching accomplishments, innovations, and/or contributions.
3. Teaching load.
4. Research and service activities where relevant to teaching activities.
5. Student and peer teaching evaluations.
6. Publishing activity, especially publications related to teaching.
7. Type, number, and innovation in materials developed for teaching.
8. Grant support for teaching projects.
9. Other honors and awards received for teaching.

Award Committee

The selection committee is composed of up to five members of the AAVMC Academic Affairs Committee.

Background and past recipients

The AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, Presented by Zoetis, is awarded annually to a faculty member who was selected by a committee of their AAVMC peers. It is the most prestigious teaching award in veterinary medicine. The award was originally named in honor of Carl J. Norden, founder of Norden Laboratories. Since 1963, the award has been sponsored by Zoetis (formerly Pfizer Animal Health). Each individual college selects a recipient for the local Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award in the spring. Colleges may then nominate their recipient for the United States/Caribbean award.

Past recipients of the AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, Presented by Zoetis (1992–present):      

2023 Dr. Rance Sellon

2022 Dr. Elizabeth Alvarez

2021 Dr. Erin Malone
2020 Dr. Stephen Hines
2019    Dr. Jerome Masty
2018    Dr. Gayle Brown
2017    Dr. Jennifer Hodgson
2016    Dr. Steven Stockham
2015    Dr. Pete Bill
2014    Dr. Jon Patterson
2013    Dr. Matthew Mellema
2012    Dr. Mary Anna Thrall
2011    Dr. Anton Hoffman
2010    Dr. Richard Meadows
2009    Dr. Larry Adams
2008    Dr. Bonnie Smith
2007    Dr. S. Kathleen Salisbury
2006    Dr. L. Ray Whalen
2005    Dr. Peter MacWilliams
2004    Dr. Holly Bender
2003    Dr. S. Dru Forrester
2002    Dr. Scott Brown
2001    Dr. Steven Kincaid
2000    Dr. Bradley Klein
1999    Dr. Sharon Patton
1998    Dr. Steven Parish
1997    Dr. Mary Christopher
1996    Dr. Stephen Hines
1995    Dr. Kent Ames
1994    Dr. Michael Willard
1993    Dr. Harold N. Engel, Jr.
1992    Dr. Raymond Sweeney